Chance device for use with board game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A beauty contest theme board game which includes a plurality of playing pieces, a game board having a plurality of stations thereon defining a playing piece path of travel for acquiring point cards relating to various traits of a beauty contestant, and a die for determining the number of playing stations a particular playing piece is to advance on the game board. The board game also includes a spinner having a housing which is adapted to be supported on the game board. The spinner housing has a plurality of chance stations formed on the outside periphery thereof. A plurality of contestant cards, at least one for each player of the game, are provided and are adapted to be positioned on said chance stations. A spinner member mounted on said housing and operably associated with the chance stations is engageable with said contestant cards for randomly and physically changing the disposition of one contestant card at one station for contestant elimination purposes.

United States Patent Breslow et al.

[ Jan. 21 1975 CHANCE DEVICE FOR USE WITH BOARD GAME APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Jeffrey D. Breslow, Highland Park;

Bette M. Kaelin, Chicago, both of Ill.

[73] Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates,

Chicago, Ill.

22 Filed: Aug. 3, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 385,397

[52] U.S. Cl...... 273/138 R, 273/134 C, 273/134 D, 273/134 E, 273/141 R [51] Int. Cl. A63f 3/00 [58] Field of Search 273/138, 139, 141

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 566,930 9/1896 Nimmo 273/138 R 1,844,735 2/1932 Young 273/138 R X 2,687,890 8/1954 Hedin 273/138 R 2,794,643 6/1957 Lafleur 273/138 R Primary ExaminerDelbert B. Lowe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Coffee and Sweeney [57] ABSTRACT A beauty contest theme board game which includes a plurality of playing pieces, a game board having a plurality of stations thereon defining a playing piece path of travel for acquiring point cards relating to various traits of a beauty contestant, and a die for determining the number of playing stations a particular playing piece is to advance on the game board. The board game also includes a spinner having a housing which is adapted to be supported on the game board. The spinner housing has a plurality of chance stations formed on the outside periphery thereof. A plurality of contestant cards, at least one for each player of the game, are provided and are adapted to be positioned on said chance stations. A spinner member mounted on said housing and operably associated with the chance stations is engageable with said contestant cards for randomly and physically changing the disposition of one contestant card at one station for contestant elimination purposes.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures CHANCE DEVICE FOR USE WITH BOARD GAME APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to board games, along with chance devices which can be used in board games.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Board games are well known in the art and have enjoyed a great deal of popularity. The conventional board game usually includes a plurality of playing pieces, one for each player of the game, a game board having a plurality of playing stations thereon defining a playing piece path of travel, and at least one chance device for determining the number of playing stations a particular playing piece is to advance on the game board. As the playing pieces advance over the playing stations, the players act according to the indicia printed on the playing stations and the rules of the particular game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved type of chance device.

This and other objects of the invention are accomplished by one embodiment currently contemplated by providing first and second chance devices. The first chance device includes a die or the like and the second chance device includes a housing adapted to be supported on a game board. A plurality of chance stations are formed along the periphery of the housing, at least one chance station for each player of the game.

Each player of the game has at least one chance piece in the form of beauty contestant cards which are adapted to be positioned on the respective players chance station. Also included is random pointing means mounted on the housing operably asociated with said chance stations and engageable with said contestant cards positioned thereat for randomly and physically altering the disposition of one of the contestant cards at one particular station. By so altering the physical disposition of a contestant card the attainment or failure to reach a goal, beauty contest winner, is physically signified.

A pivotally mounted lever is provided at each chance station. The lever has one end outside the housing for mounting a contestant card thereon and another end extending into the housing.

The random pointing means includes a generally vertical shaft rotatably and reciprocably mounted on the housing about its longitudinal, vertical axis. The shaft has a hand manipulatable upper end extending outside of the housing and a lower end extending into the housing. The lower end of the shaft has a generally horizontal radially extending alignment means secured thereto for rotation with the shaft. The alignment means passes the chance stations as the shaft rotates and aligns with one of the chance stations after the rotating shaft comes to rest. The pointing means is movable between a normal alignment position wherein the alignment means is spaced from the lever of the aligned station and an engagement position wherein the alignment means is in contact with the inside end of the lever in response to the vertical reciprocal movement of the shaft. When the lever is pivoted by pressing down on the shaft, the disposition of the contestant card mounted at the other end of the pivoting lever is physically changed to signify selection or elimination of the beauty contestant represented by that card.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the chance device of the present invention used in association with a board FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the chance device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial vertical section taken generally along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the chance device as shown in FIG. 3 in a different position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of two contestant chance cards used in association with the chance device of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view ofa plurality of point cards used in association with the chance device of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a playing piece used in the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The game used with the present invention has a beauty contest theme and is seen to generally include a game board, generally designated 10 (FIG. I), a chance device in the form of a die 12 (FIG. 1), another chance device in the form of a center spinner, generally designated 14 (FIGS. 1 and 2), a plurality of playing pieces 16 (FIG. 8), one for each player of the game, a

plurality of chance pieces in the form of contestant cards 18 (FIG. 6), a set of poise point cards 20 (FIGS. 1 and 7), a set of swimsuit point cards 22 (FIGS. I and 7), a set of evening gown point cards 24 (FIGS. 1 and 7) and a set of talent point cards 26 (FIGS. 1 and 7). According to the rules of the game and utilizing the elements above listed, the object of the game is for a player to become the winner of the beauty contest by accumulating the greatest number of points.

The game board 10 has a plurality of playing stations 28 printed thereon defining a playing piece path of travel about the periphery of the game board. The playing pieces 16 travel on the board by advancing a number of playing stations 28 corresponding to the throw of the die 12. By landing on some of the playing stations 28, a player is able to accumulate point cards 20, 22, 24 and/or 26 in an effort to win the beauty contest.

Turning now to FIG. 7 in greater detail, point cards 20, 22, 24 and 26 are seen to have indicia printed on one side thereof. The indicia on each card includes a numerical value which inures to the benefit of the player who acquires that particular point card. The point cards shown in FIG. 7 are merely exemplary of the indicia that can be printed on the cards. It can be appreciated that there are a plurality of different point numbers for each set of point cards 20, 22, 24 and 26.

Each of the playing stations 28 have indicia printed thereon which instructs a player to do a certain act. Category point card stations 28a have indicia thereon designating either poise, swimsuit, talent" or evening gown. Stations 28a are provided to instruct a player whose playing piece 16 lands on one of those stations to pick a card from the corresponding set of cards indicated by the station. Thus, if a players playing piece lands on a swimsuit station, he is entitled to pick a swimsuit point card 22.

Other playing stations 28b have the word encore printed thereon. According to the rules of the game, when a player lands on an encore station 28b, he is entitled to draw a point card from any selected one of the four sets of cards 20, 22, 24 and 26 and then roll the die again and move accordingly.

Some stations 28c have the phrase missed your cue printed thereon. When a players playing piece 16 lands on a missed your cue station 28c, that player must return his lowest point card to the bottom of the corre-- sponding set of cards 20, 22, 24 or 26.

Four corner stations 28d are provided at the corners of the game board 10. Each of the corner stations 28d corresponds to one of the players. If a players playing piece 16 lands on a corner station 28d that is not his corner station, he must give up a point card 20, 22, 24 or 26 to the player whose corner station he has landed on. If a players playing piece 16 has landed on his own corner station 28d, that player is entitled to collect one point card 20, 22, 24 and 26 from each category.

The phrase select another contestant is printed on stations 28e. If a player lands on station 28e, he is entitled to select another contestant in the form of a contestant card 18 (FIG. 6). V

Some of the stations 28f have the phrase elimination run-of printed thereon. If any players playing piece 16 lands on an elimination run-off station 28f, the center spinner 14 is employed to eliminate one of the contestants, in the form of a held contestant card, along with all of the accumulated point cards which that contestant has collected up to that point. The forfeited point cards are then returned to their corresponding sets of cards 20, 22, 24 and/or 26.

The last kind of station 28 is a final judging station 28g. The center spinner 14 is again employed to choose runners-up and the winner of the contest in a manner which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Turning to FIG. 8, the playing piece 16 is shown in greater detail. Each playing piece 16 is seen to include a pedestal 30 having a card-like placard in the shape of a beauty contestant 32 mounted thereon. The playing pieces 16 are distinguishable by color of the pedestal 30.

Turning now to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the center spinner 14 generally includes a housing 34 having a plurality of chance stations, generally designated 36, formed around the periphery thereof, at least one chance station for each player of the game. Each chance station 36 has an opening 38 therein leading to the interior of the housing 34.

Associated with each chance station 36 is a lever 40 (FIG. having an outside slotted, U-ahaped end 42. The levers protrude through openings 38 to the inside of the housing and have inside ends 44. The lever 40 is pivotally mounted between ends 42 and 44. The U shaped end 42 has a lateral groove 45 formed therein for receiving a contestant card 18 face down as best shown in FIG. 3.

The housing has an upper, generally vertical, openended, cylindrical sleeve 46 formed through its center. Sleeve 46 receives random selection or pointing means, generally designated 48, which is operably associated with the chance stations 36 and engageable with each of the levers 40 individually at their inside ends 44.

More particularly, the random pointing means 48'is seen to include a generally vertical shaft 50 rotatably and reciprocally mounted in sleeve 46. The shaft 50 has a hand manipulatable handle-like upper end 52 extending outside of the housing 34 and a lower end 54 extending into the housing. The lower end 54 of shaft 50 has a generally circular disc 56 secured thereto for rotation with the shaft.

Disc 56 has a protruding portion 58 as best seen in FIG. 5 which is capable of overlying any one of the inside ends 44 of any of the levers 40. Portion 58 is of a sufficient width so that it will always overlie one lever 40 but is narrow enough so that it will not overlie more than one lever at one time.

Formed on a bottom floor 60 of the housing is a lower, vertical, interior, cylindrical sleeve 62 having an open top to receive at least a portion of the lower end 54 of shaft 50. A coil spring 64 is mounted around the sleeve 62 within the housing 34. The spring 64 acts to keep or maintain the protruding portion 58 of disc 56 normally above one of the levers 40 as shown in FIG. 3. It is to be noted, looking at FIG. 3, that there is a space 66 below the lower end of the shaft 54 within the cylindrical sleeve. Shaft 50 can be pushed down to fill up space 66. Spring 64 normally maintains space 66 as is shown in FIG. 3 and returns the pointing means from the position shown in FIG. 4 back to the position shown in FIG. 3.

In use, four contestant cards 18 are mounted in the outside ends 42 of the levers 40 at each chance station 36. The random pointing means 48 is then spun by grasping the upper end 52 of shaft 50 and twisting. After spinning and coming to rest, the random pointing means 48 is in an alignment position wherein protruding portion 58 is not in contact with but overlies one of the levers 40 as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Shaft 50 then is pressed downwardly to compress spring 64. This places the random pointing means 48 in an engagement position as best shown in FIG. 4 wherein the protruding portion 58 contacts the top of the inside lever end 44 causing lever 40 to pivot as shown. When lever 40 is in the position shown in FIG. 4, the contestant card 18 will be lifted up so that it can be identified. In this manner, a contestant is either eliminated or given a certain status according to the rules of the game, which will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

In order to begin the game, as best shown in FIG. 1, spinner 14 is placed in the center of game board 10, the point cards 20, 22, 24 and 26 are placed on the game board 10 face down as shown in FIG. 1, and each playing piece 16 is placed at its corresponding corner station 28d.

The game as will be described hereinafter is for four players. However, it can be appreciated that, with some modifications, more or fewer players can play the game.

After the game pieces 16 have been positioned as described above, each player is dealt ten contestant cards 18. The ten remaining or extra contestant cards are for future use during the game, specifically when a playing piece lands on an extra contestant station 28e. The die is then rolled by a player who moves his corresponding playing piece 16 over the stations 28. The four players take alternate turns at rolling the die and moving their playing pieces. The points which are accumulated by a particular player in the form of playing cards 20, 22, 24 and 26 can only go to one of the contestants he holds as represented by contestant cards 18 which the player has received. The remainder of a particular players contestants (cards) are temporarily out of the game.

If a playing piece 16 should land on an elimination run-off station 28f, the four contestants which are then in the contest are placed in their respective chance stations 36 in the center spinner 14. The player whose card 18 is chosen by operating the spinner 14 must give up the card and he loses all of his point cards which then must be returned to their respective card piles. After an elimination run-off, the players whose contes tants have survived the run-off of the spinner may choose to put in another contestant so that the accumulated points of the previously used contestant will not be subject to elimination run-off. In the alternative, the player may keep the same contestant card in the contest in order to accumulate more points for that representative contestant. However, in any case, no contestant should be changed except immediately after an elimination run-off.

The point cards which are collected by each of the players are placed face down so that the other players will not be able to tell how many points have been accumulated. This is important because the amount of points one player thinks another player has may dictate whether or not he will replace a contestant after an elimination run-off.

In order to qualify to win the beauty contest, a player must have at least one card from each of the sets of cards 20, 22, 24 and 26. Unless a contestant is qualified that player cannot win the contest.

If a players playing piece 16 falls on a final judging station 28g, the four contestants which are then in the game are placed in their respective chance stations 36 in the center spinner 14 as already described. The contestant who is chosen after actuation of the spinner 14 is then placed in one of four card holders 68 mounted on the outside of the housing 34, one between each pair of successive chance stations 36. The contestant chosen after the first final judging is placed in the fourth runner-up position. The contestant chosen after the second final judging is placed in the third runner-up position. The contestant chosen after the third final judging is placed in the second runner-up position. The contestant who is chosen in the fourth final judging is placed in the first runner-up position.

The winner of the beauty contest is chosen on the l. A chance device comprising:

a housing;

means defining a plurality of chance stations formed on the outside of said housing, each chance station including a pivotally mounted lever having one end outside of the housing and another end extending into the housing;

a plurality of chance pieces, adapted to be received on the outside end of each lever at said chance stations, each chance piece having indicia thereon; and

random selection means mounted on said housing operably associated with said chance stations and engageable with the inside end of one of said levers for randomly and physically altering the disposition of one chance piece at one station thereby signifying the attainment of or failure to reach a predetermined goal, said random selection means including a generally vertical shaft rotatably and reciprocally mounted on said housing about its longitudinal axis, said shaft having a hand manipulatable upper end extending outside of said housing and a lower end extending into said housing, said lower end having generally horizontal alignment means secured thereto for rotation with said shaft, said alignment means passing said chance stations as said shaft rotates and aligning with the inside end of one of said levers after said rotating shaft comes to 'rest, said selection means being selectively movable between a normal alignment position wherein said alignment means is spaced from said inside lever end and an engagement position wherein said alignment means is operably connected to the inner end of said lever positioned at the aligned chance station in response to reciprocal movement of said shaft, whereby said chance pieces position is physically changed due to the pivotal movement of said lever.

2. The chance device of claim I wherein said alignment means includes a generally circular disc member secured to said shaft for rotation therewith within the housing, said disc member having a protrusion formed along the periphery thereof for contacting one of said levers.

3. The chance device of claim 1 wherein said random selection means includes spring biased return means mounted within the housing and associated with said shaft for returning said selection means from said engagement position back to said normal alignment position.

4. The chance device of claim 1 wherein said chance piece is a card which is adapted to be supported in a face-down position at one of said chance stations, said lever having means to raise said card in response to the pivoting thereof at that particular chance station thereby exposing the face of the card. 

1. A chance device comprising: a housing; means defining a plurality of chance stations formed on the outside of said housing, each chance station including a pivotally mounted lever having one end outside of the housing and another end extending into the housing; a plurality of chance pieces, adapted to be received on the outside end of each lever at said chance stations, each chance piece having indicia thereon; and random selection means mounted on said housing operably associated with said chance stations and engageable with the inside end of one of said levers for randomly and physically altering the disposition of one chance piece at one station thereby signifying the attainment of or failure to reach a predetermined goal, said random selection means including a generally vertical shaft rotatably and reciprocally mounted on said housing about its longitudinal axis, said shaft having a hand manipulatable upper end extending outside of said housing and a lower end extending into said housing, said lower end having generally horizontal alignment means secured thereto for rotation with said shaft, said alignment means passing said chance stations as said shaft rotates and aligning with the inside end of one of said levers after said rotating shaft comes to rest, said selection means being selectively movable between a normal alignment position wherein said alignment means is spaced from said inside lever end and an engagement position wherein said alignment means is operably connected to the inner end of said lever positioned at the aligned chance station in response to reciprocal movement of said shaft, whereby said chance piece''s position is physically changed due to the pivotal movement of said lever.
 2. The chance device of claim 1 wherein said alignment means includes a generally circular disc member secured to said shaft for rotation therewith within the housing, said disc member having a protrusioN formed along the periphery thereof for contacting one of said levers.
 3. The chance device of claim 1 wherein said random selection means includes spring biased return means mounted within the housing and associated with said shaft for returning said selection means from said engagement position back to said normal alignment position.
 4. The chance device of claim 1 wherein said chance piece is a card which is adapted to be supported in a face-down position at one of said chance stations, said lever having means to raise said card in response to the pivoting thereof at that particular chance station thereby exposing the face of the card. 